THE AACR CALL TO ACTIONIN THIS SECTION YOU WILL LEARN:THAT THE AACR RESPECTFULLY URGES THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS TO PRIORITIZE THEGROWTH OF THE NIH AND NCI BUDGETS AT A PREDICTABLE, ROBUST PACE BY PROVIDING ANNUALBUDGET INCREASES AT LEAST COMPARABLE TO THE BIOMEDICAL INFLATION RATE.

We are now at a crossroads in our country’s long struggle
to prevent and cure cancer; we must choose between
two paths, but there is only one viable path forward to
continue transforming lives.

On the viable path we seize the momentum at this exciting
time in biomedical research by committing to budget
increases for the NIH and NCI so that the remarkable
progress of the past can continue at a rapid pace.

To take the alternative path is simply unacceptable. ;is
particularly dangerous path leads us to a place where federal
funding for biomedical research remains stagnant or, even
worse, declines, seriously jeopardizing the rate at which
we are able to make progress. On this path, breakthroughs
and discoveries will be slowed, meaning that delivery of the
cures that patients and their loved ones desperately need
is delayed. Early-career researchers may be forced to leave
science for other ;elds, further jeopardizing continued
future progress.

;e AACR respectfully urges Congress to do the right thing
for cancer patients and our nation and choose the only
viable path forward, which is to:

Prioritize the growth of the NIH and NCIbudgets at a predictable, robust pace byproviding annual budget increases at leastcomparable to the biomedical inflation rate.

Rededicating our country to the promise of biomedical
research requires strong leadership from the administration
and Congress. It also requires a commitment from all
Americans to support federal funding for biomedical
research and to communicate this view to policymakers.

As a country we must set priorities and make di;cult
choices at this ;scally challenging time in our history. Our
federal government can do no better than invest robustly in
the NIH and the NCI so that the path forward will lead us to
a brighter future for the millions of people whose lives have
been touched by cancer.